“I know that. That’s why it doesn’t bother me. I actually kind of like it that you see me so well.” She breathes, looking down at her fingers before she untangles and shakes them out. “I am nervous. I have two things to ask.”
“Ask away.”
“Can we…talk about some things? The plan for tomorrow, how I feel about them, and also…” she trails off, turning to face me fully.
“Also what?”
“Can I stay in here tonight? With you?”
Shock colors my face and I’m not quick enough to hide it. It’s obvious she takes it the wrong way instantly when hers falls.
“I’d love nothing more.”
Her lips part. “Really?”
“If that’s what you want, and you’re comfortable with that, then absolutely.”
“But is it what you want? I don’t want you to agree because it’s what I want.”
I recognize the error in my answer immediately. My legs eat up the space between us in three strides. She tilts her head back and I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
My fingers caress down her jawline. “I’m not agreeing because it’s what you want. I only said that because you’re more comfortable in your own room. You’ve never slept anywhere but your bed or the couch since arriving here. I’d love to sleep by your side every night.”
“Why haven’t you?”
“You never invited me to or said I was allowed to.”
“I didn’t really invite Kyzen or tell him he could either. He just did. You’ve walked into my room before, so I didn’t know I had to make it clear you were welcome to stay the night. You’re always welcome.”
A shiver races through my blood, and it takes great effort to suppress it.
“Now that I know, I will.” A stunning smile crosses her face and my cheek muscles twitch. “Where would you like to talk?”
Her eyes flick to the bed first before she even considers the chair in front of my desk. I slide my hand down her arm until her fingers are laced with mine and I guide her to the side of the bed farthest from the door.
“I can sit at your desk if you’re still working.”
“My work is done for the night. All that matters is what you want to discuss.”
I pull my unwrinkled, dark blue sheets back, and she kicks her slippers off before crawling in.
The way she’s so comfortable, content, climbing right into my bed with no hesitation, sends fire through my body.
It’s an invigorating sensation.
Once she’s right where she wants to be, with a wave of my power, I command my lights off, and a single dim light flickers to life. The small lamp casts the room in a warm but faint yellow glow and I move to the other side of my bed.
I freeze. Unsure of what to do.
No one’s ever here when I get ready for bed.
“Don’t change anything about what you would do before bed because I’m here.”
The understanding on her face tells me I didn’t utter my thought. My body language made it obvious enough.
I nod and pull my shirt over my head. The deep inhale she takes obscures the sound of it hitting the ground.
I stare, mesmerized, as her pupils dilate and she maps out my body just as she did my room. No surface goes unnoticed. Every inch of my bare skin gets her attention.
